“He says you are his aunt, as you have married papa.”
“It is singular he never discovered the relationship until to-day! During your mother’s lifetime, I have heard, too, that the Raimunds pretended at times to forget your father’s name. The fact is, my dear, he thought it would flatter me to fancy myself aunt to a count, although there is actually no relationship whatever, and you thought so too, Hildegarde, or you would not have repeated so absurd a remark.”
Hildegarde’s face became crimson. “These were his words,” she said, with the quivering lips of half-subdued anger. “You may, of course, put what construction you please on them.”
“The words and their meaning are easily understood,” said Madame Rosenberg, laughing. “But why he has so suddenly chosen to acknowledge a relationship with you and Crescenz, and force upon me the honour of being his aunt, is more difficult to comprehend.”
“Not at all, ma’am,” said Major Stultz, glancing from Hildegarde to Crescenz, “not at all. A young man is always glad to gain admittance to a house where there are young ladies.”
“But, my dear Major, the man is engaged to be married to Mademoiselle de Hoffmann in January, and all other young women must be indifferent to him now!”
“Some men never become indifferent to young women, ma’am; and, if I am not mistaken, this Count Raimund is one of these persons. I think I have heard that he has been a very—a——”
“Very what?” asked Madame Rosenberg, quickly.
“Very wild—if not very profligate,” replied Major Stultz, distinctly.
“Then I shall take good care that if he comes to-morrow, it shall be his last as well as his first visit. But you are quite sure of what you say? Otherwise you know Rosenberg might be dissatisfied, and think that I was uncivil from personal dislike, for I do dislike these Raimunds, and that’s the truth. Fancy their pretending to think that I treated Hildegarde and Crescenz harshly after my marriage, and proposing to take them altogether from me!”